March 17th, 2015

Given that Doom Metal (or should that be DOOM METAL ? It feels like it has earned the right to be in ALL-CAPS) has pretty much more right than any other subgenre to claim it is the “original” form of heavy metal, it seemed kind of remiss that we didn’t have a column dedicated specifically to it. Until now – step forward, Pete Long….

December 23rd, 2014

Look, we know it’s nearly Christmas, but that doesn’t mean that the relentless touring machine at the heart of heavy metal has stopped yet. Kreator and Arch Enemy have only just finished a punishing double-headliner tour. We sent Pete Long along to headbang himself senseless at the London leg of the tour.

December 17th, 2014

The key to a good melodic death metal album is a multitude of great riffs, teetering right between wild-eyed aggression and impressible catchiness. But the majority of bands in the genre seem to have forgotten this in their quest to push its boundaries. Mors Principium Est’s new album, Dawn of the 5th Era, is an antidote to that. It’s filled to the brim with great riffs.

November 24th, 2014

It is impossible to discuss Primordial without talking about the music’s emotion as much as the music itself. Pride, grief, rage; these things meld into each other and every note, giving the band a resonance and sincerity that politicians and Christmas adverts alike would kill for. Where Greater Men Have Fallen is very much in the same vein as its predecessors, and for a band of Primordial’s consistency, that can only be a good thing.

November 13th, 2014

There’s no way around it – At The Gates releasing their first new material in over 18 years was a big deal. We sent Pete Long along to find out from Tomas Lindberg, the band’s frontman, just why it took so long.

When Tomas Lindberg talks about the “One thousand, two thousand people” waiting for At War With Reality, it seems he might be selling himself a little short. It’s not that he’s unaware of the affection that Slaughter of the Soul is held in, it’s just that nobody in At The Gates is the type of guy to spend too much time thinking about the album’s legacy. Considering the effects that the level of expectation could have had on them, it’s probably just as well.

November 5th, 2014

It’s probably enshrined in ancient charter that all Polish metal bands must have at least one member who at some point has contributed to one of Behemoth, Vader or Decapitated. Sure enough, of Vesania’s three founder members, frontman Orion plays bass with Behemoth, bassist Heinrich has played with Decapitated, and drummer Daray has played with Vader (and just about everyone else). It sort of makes them a supergroup in reverse. It also probably accounts for why it’s been seven years between albums.

September 29th, 2014

It is very hard to escape the influence of Slaughter of the Soul. At The Gates’ classic still stands as the consensus pinnacle of the melodeath genre, and remains a touchstone of much of modern metal. So it’s probably best to establish from the off that At War with Reality – arguably the most anticipated comeback album since Carcass’ Surgical Steel – is not a clone of its predecessor.

September 8th, 2014

Witch Mountain’s new album will be released at exactly the right time of year to appreciate it. Shortening nights, greying skies – autumn is a time for doom metal. Fans’ appreciation of Mobile of Angels will be tempered, however, by the news that this will be vocalist Uta Plotkin’s last album with the band. It’s enough to move you to sadness before even listening to it.

September 4th, 2014

When guitarist Vogg resurrected Decapitated following the tragic road accident in 2007 that shattered the band, he could have chosen to keep doing the same things that had made Decapitated as big as they are. The 2011 release of Carnival is Forever was definitely not the result of such a decision. Blood Mantra is another step down that path, away from the sounds of traditional death metal.